Special teams a nightmare for Georgia Tech
CLEMSON, S.C. — Georgia Tech’s special teams play was “a nightmare” in its 27-13 loss to Clemson on Saturday, according to coach Paul Johnson. It has been a consistent issue this season and was a much different performance than those in last year’s two wins over the Tigers.
Six miscues were made:
A roughing the kicker was called after Tech held the Tigers to three downs on the game’s opening drive. Johnson said two players were cut loose by the Tigers on the play. Instead of blocking the ball, Johnson said the unidentified player turned and his head and got alligator arms, causing him to miss the ball and slam into the punter. Clemson scored on its next play.
The next error occurred when Anthony Egbuniwe was called for a late hit on Tech’s first punt. Clemson missed the field goal.
Isaiah Johnson had a chance to down a punt at the 1-yard line, but the ball flew right through his arms. The Tigers went down the shorter field and hit a field goal for a 10-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets were called for holding on the subsequent kickoff return, forcing them to start at the 17-yard line, instead of the 27.
After the Tigers’ second touchdown, the Yellow Jackets were called for an illegal block, backing them up to their 12-yard line, instead of starting on the 22.
Later in the game, Louis Young failed to recover a fumbled kickoff return that he seemed to jump on, and Scott Blair, who kicked seven field goals and threw a touchdown pass in last year’s victories, put a bow on the issues by missing a 49-yard field goal with 11 minutes, 4 seconds remaining.
There was a highlight: Lined up as an upback, Lucas Cox called a fake punt that he ran for a first down. But it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome all of the errors.
“We’ve just got to go back to the drawing board in practice and start to work on the little things,” Mario Butler said.
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143 comments Add your comment
saban
October 24th, 2010
10:49 am
Paul Johnson and Al Groh are a blessing to Georgia Tech.
Give them time.
A lot has been accomplished in a very short time.
Remember two years ago when the dawgs were number one and lost to Tech at year end?
Georgia has been successful because they have no standards. One day that will catch up with them. It probably already has.
Tech will be successful because they have standards.
dawgs are 4-4 heading for at best 6-6, with the Fulmer Cup as their new trophy.
Rather be a Tech fan.
techbuzzer
October 24th, 2010
10:52 am
Anybody miss ole Chan yet?
Paul Has A Small Johnson
October 24th, 2010
10:54 am
saban
what standard, 97% of your football team are not in the engineering program, but a bunch of other crap to keep them eligible
stop with the standards crap
I like coach Johnson
October 24th, 2010
10:56 am
I actually like CPJ’s offense. Nesbit definitely is not the right QB to run it. With a QB that can actually throw the ball this offense will be harder to stop. It will loosen up the D. They won’t be able to put 8 in the box. Another thing is that our offensive line has to improve. They’ve got to improve. About the Clemson game. Nesbit did hit dropsy Hill right on the shoulder pads. He’s got to make that catch. Game tied right there and everyone gets fired up. Football is about reaction time, having a mean streak, and wanting to knock someone’s dick in the dirt. On the 2 TD plays where Tarrant, and Edwards got their jocks faked off they showed none of these qualities. Tarrant seeing it was a obvious running play should have come up immediately from his safety position and made the play. He instead waited for the RB to come to him and he totally looked like an idiot trying to make the tackle. Edwards pretty much did the same thing. He should have come up immmediatelly when the RB swung out into the flats and made the play. He instead looked like a fool backing up to scared to make the tackle. During the game I observed numerous times where players were slow to react or took themselves out of the play by lining up in the wrong spot. Most of the mistakes that I saw were things you learn in high school. These aren’t coaching misques this a lack of players having the heart, and mean streak it takes to play at this level.
Tech/Tide Fan
October 24th, 2010
11:07 am
CPJ has to go! Return to the days of Chan?? Are you kidding me? Compared to last year our offense is clearly not as effective. Too many fumbles/penalities are on us. I suspect adjustments to by other teams is part of the issue — particularly with our pathetic passing game. Joshua has below average accuracy & our receivers are mediocre at best. Thomas masked some of this last year. We will find a passing/running Q back with some receivers who can catch the ball rather than have the ball bounce off his face….. and this offense will return to level of last year. Per our defense, they are better than last year, but still well below average. New recruits + adjustment to the 3-4 will get us to above average. This Tech fan has plenty of faith in both Johnson & Groh. Go Jackets.
Paul Has A Small Johnson
October 24th, 2010
11:12 am
Get ready for more losss
Miami, VT and UGA bank on it
GRADE D
October 24th, 2010
11:13 am
not sure what alligator arms means but I do not think I have ever seen a worse display than from Sweeting on that roughing the kicker call. If ever a player needs to be demoted to scout team than this…and I have never felt that way before about any player. GT does not have the talent it had last season and because they are ACC champs, the Clemsons and VT’s, fans included, are out to destroy our team at their home field…the good news this season will be over soon and GT gets home field next season…It is strange how the schedule is set up to play at UNC, Clemson, VT and UGA all the same years. It is like you have to wait til every other season to get some balance to it..did think Anthony Allen did all he could
Willy
October 24th, 2010
11:15 am
UGA will finish 6-6 also…..
Technophobia
October 24th, 2010
11:22 am
Special teams ARE a nightmare. You cannot give a good team gifts like the roughing the punter and expect to win.
Thwg
October 24th, 2010
11:40 am
Has Stephen hill ever seen a pass he could catch. That guy is killing us. What a head case. Get him out and start prepping someone else. He’s had his chances. Time to give some else the opportunity.
Titanic
October 24th, 2010
11:41 am
Tech is taking on water and stern is jacking up in the air. Al Groh’s defense is pathetic. We stink.
GTLaughingStock
October 24th, 2010
12:03 pm
Robot? more like NO-bot! btw, hows that Hiesman campaign going LOL! Ive seen better arms on a clock! who needs Comedy Central when u have GT football?
oh yea nerds the WHOLE country is laughing at you, not just dawg nation.
Ramblin Man
October 24th, 2010
12:22 pm
I still don’t get why people blame Nesbitt solely for the passing game problem. Either you don’t watch the games or are just plain stupid. The receivers have dropped more passes than he has badly thrown balls. Hill should have had that TD yesterday and his stone hands helped with the Int at the end of the game. The MTSU was solid proof of this in that balls were dropped all day. This team just kills itself with stupid penalties and dumb mental mistakes. GT had more than enough chances to win that game and made a mediocre Clemson team look much better than they actually are. At this rate GT will be lucky to win 2 more and I am sad to say with the way UGA is playing we fans are going to have to put up with another year of moronic UGA fans firing off at the mouth with the only saving grace being that they won’t win in a weak SEC east this year.
Ramblin Man
October 24th, 2010
12:24 pm
would not let me post again
Ramblin Man
October 24th, 2010
12:31 pm
actually UGAlaughingstock other than puppy fans I have had no fan of another team talk trash. I was at the Clemson game and not one Clemson fan talked trash and said the GT program sucked. I know plenty of fans from several different schools and the only ones that ever spew thier ignorant hate are UGA fans.
Hill is definitely not pulling his weight and the penalties have gotten way out of hand. The receivers do nothing to help Nesbitt for the most part and his confidince has to be lacking. It was clear that the game plan was to go after Nesbitt so he did not get the record in Death Valley and it looked like CPJ counted on that and the receivers just did not take advantage. GT had more than enough chances to win that game and shot themselves in the foot each time. If that is all these players have left GT will be lucky to win two more and get invited to the toilet bowl.
wesleywhatwhat
October 24th, 2010
12:34 pm
stephen hill should be starting the next 4 games on the bench.
Technophobia
October 24th, 2010
12:37 pm
Pretty amazing that UGa fans are talking smack on here after giving up 423 yds and 22 first down to Kentucky while only getting 290 yds and 13 first downs themselves. And that was with Kentucky’s top rusher being out with an injury. Kentucky never even had to punt!!! What a joke.
Paul has a small Johnson
October 24th, 2010
12:46 pm
2 tickets 4 free hotdogs = 1 joke by Coke
Paul in RDU
October 24th, 2010
12:50 pm
I agree that the special teams were a nightmare yesterday. Another problem in the game, and for the season as a whole, is that the team is not making the big plays when they need them. Hill drops a sure TD pass, GT forces a fumble on a kick off return and somehow doesn’t recover, etc.
The ACC has plenty of bowl tie ins, so a win over Duke will get them in a bowl, but this year’s GT team looks like no match for the other 3 teams left on the schedule
Delbert D.
October 24th, 2010
12:53 pm
Johnson should require the team to watch the replay of Notre Dame-Navy. Navy’s OL averages 270 lbs. (according to the announcers). Both teams run the 3-4, and Navy had a 200 lb. linebacker. Very peecise operation of the triple option, and Navy’s B-back gashed the Irish with over 200 yards rushing.
Delbert D.
October 24th, 2010
12:54 pm
“Peecise”…that was unintentionally funny. Navy was “precise” in their execution of the spread triple option.
ATL Nole
October 24th, 2010
1:02 pm
Georgia Tech is just downright pathetic. Now that the luster of PJ’s gimmick offense has worn off and combined with the fact that your D is atrocious, you are the laughing stock of the ACC. Tech fans have this arrogance about them that matches their coach who would be better off in Pop Warner. Why they have this attitude baffles me because their team sucks and the fanbase is even worse. News flash nerds – you are a joke. You should all go make love to a landmine.
GTZ
October 24th, 2010
1:14 pm
i competely agree with smitty… damn did i go to high school with you (boiling springs)? anyway go jackets…
GTZ
October 24th, 2010
1:18 pm
would love to see 17 (orwin smith) run through some people on those option pitch plays rather than walk it out of bounds. players need to love contact in CPJ style offense and CAG defense. Period!
delusion
October 24th, 2010
1:24 pm
Delbert, Notre Dame hasn’t been relevant in almost a quarter century. What does navy beating up on a weak Notre Dame defense have to do with GT? I seroiusly doubt Navy could go into Clemson and beat the Tigers either so you’re point is what?
superDawg
October 24th, 2010
1:30 pm
poor macriod no guts but hell thats the nerd way.
GT
October 24th, 2010
1:46 pm
GTLaughingStock
Laughing at us? hmmmm…………the entire nation is laughing at your 4-4 record and your 13 arrests, as well as all the other problems your sorry school is having. Now, go back to your job delivering pizzas, and enjoy watching UF, AUB and GT beat you from your doublewide.
longtimeGT'er
October 24th, 2010
1:51 pm
I didn’t want Paul Johnson — I don’t want Paul Johnson — I never want Paul Johnson. This is the 21st century, and we need a passing quarterback! Ours runs great — put him at running back, but don’t let him pass. We have gone back to first half 20th century football — maybe, we need to try the “Notre Dame box step”. (Remember the movie with Rockne forcing the backs to learn to dance???) Hey, Auburn looks great this year with their running/passing QT. Anyone know if their coach is available??
CV for GT
October 24th, 2010
1:52 pm
Paul — You had your one moment, and while it was a pretty good one, it was was too brief to count in the grand scheme of things. You mentioned arrogance, which is ironic considering that’s what you’re spewing at the moment. We’ll see how much arrogance you have at the end of the season. I highly doubt your team will be above .500.
As far as fellow Tech fans relying on CPJ’s teams being better with a QB who is a more effective passer; that may be true, but don’t expect much higher production. If you go back and look at his previous teams, they always rank in the top 10 rushing, but passing stats are in the cellar percentage-wise and rank around 100 to 119 every year.
Although it doesn’t look good now, we have to stay positive. I’m still hopeful for the future and I’m confident CPJ will right the ship sooner than later.
Techmaninathens
October 24th, 2010
1:57 pm
I am very disappointed in the lack of talent CPJ has brought to this team. I thought, as did many others, that the GT program was building to a powerhouse after 2008, but it’s obvious that CPJ is a good coach with someone else’s talent. Once they left, Tech looks weaker than Chan’s teams. I have been a devoted GT fan for 50 years. I have season tickets. I don’t like my own prediction of losing 4 of the next 5 games. I went to Clemson yesterday. That was the smallest turn out of Tech fans in an away game I’ve seen in years. Why not? I knew they would loose and planned to leave after the 3rd period, which I did. Tech has not look prepared in a game this season.
Clemson had man coverage all day. We could have and should have thrown the ball down their throats and exploited them. But we only have three decent receivers, Roddy Jones, Antony Allen and Oran Smith. Stephen Hill is a drive and momentum killer. He’s fast, runs bad routes and drops 70% of the balls and never wins if the catch is contended. Tyler Melton can’t catch a cold in a thunder storm. (Credit to Anthony Allen who made a great catch and fought for the ball converting a third and ten deep in our territory). The worst part is making Dabo Swinney look like a good coach. UGH.
superDawg
October 24th, 2010
2:06 pm
gt you aint and we are going to beat the living snot out of tek and uf.auburn will be tuff but we can win this game.
Jim Bob Taylor
October 24th, 2010
2:11 pm
Navy is much more efficient at the TO than Tech. Why is that? Is it that ACC defenses are better than those playing Navy? Would Tech be better off recruiting even smaller, faster offensive linemen?
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 24th, 2010
2:16 pm
I don’t always agree with the play calling but I like the way CPJ has been mixing it up lately. The players have to catch the ball. Too many drops. Tech needs a short pass to help Nesbitt when he is in trouble. Allen looks like the best receiver. Still don’t see a sense of urgency. Lets bounce back against VT. ” GO JACKETS “
Paul has a small Johnson
October 24th, 2010
2:17 pm
Enter your comments here
SRF
October 24th, 2010
2:19 pm
CPJ is a joke – they may not win another game this seasom
RW
October 24th, 2010
2:34 pm
These boards are pathetic. You have a coach for 6-7 years that lost at least 4 games every year, get rid of him, now have a coach who’s worst year was four losses, and won a Conference Champ. And are now saying he needs to go? Saying it’s his players now is also dumb. Other than the true soph’s and freshmen, it’s still Gailey recruits. And if he can’t recruit good enough, why are there so many freshmen and sophomores on the two deep?
Oh, and yeah, lets go get an offense the same as 50 other schools run, recruit with tougher restrictions and beat more talented teams at their own game. That’s a recipe for success. Sounds like you guys loved Gailey then. And you’re all so right. Our offense sucks, and can’t compete at this level. We had a horrible day yesterday and still put up 242 on the ground. Obviously that can’t work.
Navy plays a lot of the same teams every year and runs the same offense with no talent, yet consistently beats more talented teams. Georgia Southern played the same teams every year, and played teams with just as much talent in the playoffs, and yet he won Championships there. Auburn, Florida, Miss St., Nebraska, etc. all run option style offenses to great success. At least ours is original, unique, and also very successful.
Yeah, lets fire Johnson and go back to mediocrity EVERY YEAR. Doubt you guys calling for his firing would have half the mental capacity to go to Tech.
Harry from da Burn
October 24th, 2010
2:36 pm
This might be the worse group of receivers I’ve seen on Tech in….I don’t even know
Charleston Jacket
October 24th, 2010
3:20 pm
Team has no heart. Please bench Nesbitt. He is absolutely horrific. Don’t know what has happened to this kid, but the heart is not there this year.
Scrod
October 24th, 2010
3:55 pm
Charleston is correct. This team has no heart. I don’t think they have showed ready to play all season. That goes straight to the coaching: offense, defence, special teams. None of them are ready to play. Some of this may be a lack of talent, but most of it goes to a lack of desire. I’d bench most of the starters and start prepping the underclassmen for next season.
gt71
October 24th, 2010
4:00 pm
You tell me that Cooper Taylor, Kyle Jackson, Brandon Watts, AT Barnes, Marcus Wright, Jay Finch etal can’t play for this team? Where is the depth Coach Johnson boasted of in the preseason. Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Lets shake up this lineup and try to get some spark. I love Julian Burnett’s heart but he is too small, he got pushed all over the field yesterday. We are having a down year but will still win 7. (we’ll beat Miami at Grant Field.). Lets don’t forget that under Chan 7 wins was the norm not a down year. Lets stay positive so Coach can recruit us some athletes.
GTdude
October 24th, 2010
4:00 pm
CMON!!!
this is bad
stephen hill sucks, maybe we should have converted Cooper Taylor to a WR
eBuzz
October 24th, 2010
4:13 pm
This hurts. I usually prefer to remain quiet rather than rip Tech even when they may deserve it, but enough’s enough. After a miserable start of the season, it looked liked the defense was improving. Unfortunately, not so. As a minor diversion from their own woes, my UVA friends are laughing their rears off with our hiring of Groh. Special teams are now more like specious teams. Hill couldn’t catch a cold if one hit him in the face. Oops, (take that anyway you want), one did, and he didn’t, AGAIN! He has more than proven his unworthiness. Get him out of there. Nesbitt, and I highly respect him as a true warrior, is different this year. For one, he’s telegraphing his moves and pitches all too often, and Gary Lanier of the 1976 win over Notre Dame, was a more effective passer. Oh, wait, Gary never threw a pass in that game, but at least he never tried. This team obviously read too many preseason praises of their prowess. At present, no heart, quitters. Might as well be playing for Bill Lewis. The only difference is that poor Bill had merely risen to his level of incompetence and was bewildered, whereas, I think – hope that CPJ is as mad as a cut snake and definitely not incompetent. We’ll see, but judging from a few observances, Washington will not be the future answer at QB.
Tigertalker
October 24th, 2010
4:27 pm
Its great to be a clemson tiger today.Our program has returned.i know it must hurt to be outcoached by Dabo.Dont feel too bad we have had our share of pain also.I am just glad to be a tiger today.
Tony
October 24th, 2010
4:33 pm
The bottom line is that we have a mediocre team that doesn’t have the talent that they need this year to compete with the more athletic teams. We have been very lucky to have won the games that we won. We have no passing game, so it makes is easy for a team to stack the line and stuff the run game. Consider the fact that most of the players are three star players. There’s a lot of luck in the game of football and sometimes we get lucky. Against good teams we are in trouble.
doobiedoo
October 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
eBuzz, you’re a little harsh, but you got some points. Steven Hill needs to do some pine time, and practice catching in the meantime. He only seems to catch balls that hit him in the hands, when he’s not running too fast. I can do that, and I graduated in 1970. Move Orwin Smith to receiver, and let Steven Hill watch that for a couple of games. It might get his attention. On the D…..no one seemed interested in making a hit, or hurrying to make one. And with 5:10 left, Clemson facing a third down, I said as I went to the bathroom, “Ellington into the middle, break outside, for the 20th time. And for the 20th time, that’s what they did. For a big gain. How come I do this for fun, but those who get paid for it don’t seem to get it? How come the players don’t suspect something?
doobiedoo
October 24th, 2010
4:41 pm
Oh, and why are all our pass attempts so dang long? Everybody hurts everybody with that dink-and-dunk stuff; it’s so hard to defend. So, if someone has our run options scoped out……why not throw some SHORT passes? They don’t all have to be 30 yards or more. Steven can’t catch them anyway. Use the a-backs.
scrod
October 24th, 2010
4:59 pm
Doobiedoo, it’s called poor coaching. I’ve been calling for the short pass all season. It’s gotta be a higher percentage play than the 40 yard desparation bomb. With the D crowding the line, dump a quick slant for 7 and move the chains!
Technophobia
October 24th, 2010
5:04 pm
All these “experts” and not a single mention of the problems in the red zone.
Keep your day jobs guys.
Mama Says
October 24th, 2010
5:05 pm
Two players on Tech’s defense make up for 90% of the negative plays. Edwards and Butler cannot tackle to save their lives. Both go high on every attempt. This is not a statement after a loss this has been the case even in the wins. Why either are allowed to stay on the field is bewildering to me. On the first long TD run, just after the roughing penelty, was completely on Edwards. True the linebackers had no idea where the ball was but Edwards met the RB in the middle of the field as he came through the line, he tried to go high on the tackle and basically whiffed. Butler running backwards when he has to know the goal line is 3 yards behind him in an isolated defensive position is in excusible as well and should result in his being dropped to 15th string. thats 2 plays by Butler and Edwards and their lack of football abilities that directly accounted for 14 Claemosn points. It’s very unlike CP Johnson’s to allow players to play soft I am amazed these two players are allowed to be on the field at all.
As far as offense, Hill has to catch a pass at some point. If you take away the very bad tackling or lack thereof, by Edwards and Butler, and Hill catches the deep pass that hit him in the hands (or chest) this is a completely different game. Even with the stupid metal mistakes Tech continues to make.
While I am at it—has anyone noticed how some Tech players look like robots that cannot change sirections while running ? They are extremely stiff—-they are not athletic at all
superDawg
October 24th, 2010
5:08 pm
get ready here we come to take your lunch money and there is nothing you can do about it.